Lance Letter

Oct 25th 2010

Thank you so much for the letter!!!!! This week was fun, we have like no one to teach, but hey, We're on missions and I love it!!!!!!!

We actually go to a part-members house and read the Book of Mormon with them, or him, his name is Peter Recto. He’s sweet. Saturday we got up and played basketball with him and his Phillipino friends in a park. I was the only white guy there, ha ha; and they all spoke their own language and just laughed at me. I was bad; it's been a long time since I've played real basketball - it was so much fun though!

It has rained here a lot but it’s not too cold and yes, the coat has done wonders. Hey, can you guys send a sweat shirt because I don’t have one, ha; only if you have time that is. We haven’t been as obedient as I would like, as you can tell by our success. It’s difficult when you suggest to go tracting or street contacting and your companion just says "Nope, have fun" I guess we'll be working on that for the time being and inviting people to follow the Savior. Well, I love you all and hope everyone is striving to maintain the spirit in your lives. If we feel the spirit's influence in our own lives than we can be sure the Atonement is working as well. Keep the Faith, and endure to the end so at that last day we can stand before the Lord and say "I have fought a good fight" "I gave it my all" and then he will take us by the hand and say "Well done thou true and faithful servant, enter into my presence".

Keep that in mind as we live each day. Don't get caught up in the worldly things; also, stick to the basics, as Pres. Uchtdorff said, “Read the book of Mormon, and dwell on it continually . Strive each day to preach the gospel. If it seems difficult to do, start by saying "do you like to read?" they might say "yes". ask them if they would be interested in a book that talks about the Savior Jesus Christ visiting the ancient people in America after being raised physically from the grave. Hey you never know who the Lord has prepared to receive the message.”

Tell Ryan to be happy, to listen to good music, and stay positive. Give him a ton of encouragement. Thank you for the packages that are on their way. I’m excited! I love you all, once again.

Mom you are an Angel. Dad words cannot describe the love and respect I have for you. You are the biggest star in my eyes, In EVERYONES eyes!!! I'm doing great, I eat a ton and I am loving it. I’ll hear from you soon.

Love, Lance

PS. I have interviews with Our Very Own President Jackson!

Lindsey: Letter 24

Mondays mondays mondays.... They truly do come all to quickly, however, they seem to be the perfect little relief needed during the past busy week. Sweet mother, your emails could never be too long. I appreciate so much the information of all that goes on with my family and what everyone is up to. You're too great to keep me informed. Thank you thank you.
Wow, I cant believe Ryan is off again to try out for basketball! Too fun! A little nerve racking I'm sure but I know he'll do great! Please be sure to send pictures of Lucy and Logan in their Halloween costumes! I can only imagine how cute they'll be and how fun it will be for Carlee to take them around gathering candy. Haha Carlee is such a great Aunt. As much as she thinks she will always be the favorite I hope she knows that I will one day return home and fill my role as "the favorite" just as it should be. Haha enjoy this next year with them ;) I hope Tim Isn't frying his mind with all the studying he's doing for the LSAT. Yikes.... I don't even know what those letters stand for but to even look at it hurts my brain. I don't even know the half of what goes in to getting a good score on that test but I'm sure its not an easy process. I will keep him in my prayers.
Everything here in Aldine is going great! Yesterday I had been drinking water all day and needed to use the restroom while we were tracting. We saw a man working in his garage and asked if he had a restroom I could use. Turns out two elders ten years ago came over and he said it was a powerful visit but they never came back and he'd always wondered about them. Well, here we are again! His name is Pete and he was just on his way to San Antonio Texas to visit his family for a couple of weeks. We'll resume teaching him when he returns home. We've been teaching one of our investigators (Luis) for awhile. He loves hearing and learning about everything but every time we commit him to be baptized he says no. We finally came to the conclusion that he didn't have a testimony of Joseph Smith. Its so interesting to me the difference between believing something versus receiving a witness from the holy ghost that something is true. One is filled with power and truth and the other is just a piece of interesting information. I pulled out a Joseph Smith Pamphlet and told him to go home and read only that and pray about it for the next couple of days until we saw him next. He called us the following night and had a newness of excitement to learn more. He'd read and prayed about it and felt as though he'd received his answer. I pray that Holy Ghost can continue teaching him through these next few weeks. If not, I'm afraid we'll lose him. Its happened so many times and nothing is worse. We started teaching one young man awhile ago that was in the kitchen making food while we were teaching his dad, he apparently listened in and when we returned a few days later he had read the entire book of mormon. Yesterday we went by only to find out that he has no interest in changing and doesn't want to hear any more. Ouch! That one hurt. It had only been interesting information to him, nothing more. The importance of the holy ghost in conversion is vital. There is no other way to gain a testimony of necessary truths.
We have new week here and we're excited to once again go on our fun little tracting adventures in search of those precious children that are ready to hear and accept the sweet message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ! I mean that with all of my heart. It indeed is a Marvelous work and I'm humbled and thrilled to assist the Lord in bringing about his work and glory. I Love you all and pray that you're moving forward with Faith in your Duty to God.

Lindsey: Letter 23

Hello sweet family!
Can you believe it is another new transfer!? Wow wow. I'm thrilled that I will be staying in this area with Hermana Maxwell. We get along great and hope to be finding many new people to teach soon. We had to drop a few investigators for various reasons this past week which was not a fun experience but hopefully they will get picked back up once we've left the area. We are working with many in-active members at the moment which is both wonderful and tough at the same time. Our ward isn't the hardest working or the greatest when it comes to the fellowship of ward members, let alone investigators. We had a family of investigators coming for a couple weeks but then they stopped because they felt awkward and not very welcomed. They should not have been so offended but at the same time I don't blame them for feeling a bit alienated. Wow, what to do. We've talked to the bishop a couple of times but it always ends the same and its never good. I cannot help but wonder what a difference it would make in the lives of those investigating our church if the ward members would only accept, invite, and love every new person that walked through the chapel doors. This is not a hard thing to do. It is easy to Love people. Loving people brings so much happiness and joy into our own lives. I'm surprised people aren't running around trying to get as much of it as they can! Clearly we have to be careful with how we present it but when people really know that you care and want what is best for them they begin to trust you and trust that what you're saying will bring happiness and hope into their lives. It is great! They gospel of Jesus Christ is perfect and will transform any person who strives to learn and live it. I love each of you with all of my heart and hope to hear from you soon!

Lindsey: Letter 22

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MCCALLY!
Thank you for your sweet letter! The work is going great! Everything is going great! My companion is great! Once again we are very different but it works out perfect and we are learning much from eachother! Thank you for your encouraging words of love and support. Thank you for your prayers and for you thoughts. I wish I could express to you the power in them. This week I have felt each one be answered as I've had experiences that are heaven sent.
Miguel is still listening to the message but it is hard work to find him home. He will never set a certain time to meet with us, instead he says if i'm home great! If not, maybe another time.... (silly man) but atleast he hasn't completely closed the door:)
Really, all in all things are going just great! We have another progressing inverstigator named Luis. He is wonderful! We were teaching him at a members (inactive member) home and at the end of our last lesson we invited him to come to church. He said no because he didnt have anything "appropiate" to wear. The ward member immediately said great! We'll go buy you a white shirt and tie right after this. I almost cried. If you could see where this man lives, what he has, (or lack thereof) this tender act of service was a rather large sacrifice for him. They both showed up to church the very next day with smiles on their faces and stayed the entire time. Too sweet.
What a wonderful time this is! I couldnt be more thrilled to be here in the service of the lord. I can always be doing better but that is the miracle of the atonement! I love each of you with all of my heart and pray for your happiness and success in everything you desire which is good. Love you Love you!

Lindsey: Letter 21

FELIZ CUMPLIANOS A TI FELIZ CUMPLIANOS A TI FELIZ CUMPLIANOS MI MAMASITA FELIZ CUMPLIANOS A TI!! Happy happy birthday mother dear, happy days will come to you all year, if I had a wish than it would be........ a happy happy birthday to you from me! Wow, my sweet mother, Another year wiser, another year sweeter (if that's possible....) Another year closer to more grand babies! Too too fun! Are you happy!? Are you strong? Hello, you're up and running again. I'm certain that cant be too healthy but you're pretty determined... once you get your mind set on something that's the end of the argument. You just go and run your little legs off all you want! Its your birthday. You can do whatever you desire that is good. Have at it! I hope Carlee is making you a fun meal. Choppin up her amazing lettuce and turning it into a beautiful salad. Take a picture and send it to me:) I miss all the colorful salads! She's a cute little wife now! That means shes a cook! It just comes with the title of Wife.... ha. Oh dear, I wish I could have a party with you. I want to laugh and celebrate with everyone. I want to celebrate the day my mom was born! I will do the best I can in Houston. Just know that I am treasuring up every sweet memory I can think of that includes you. What a treasure you are. Really Truly. You're just a joy and I want you to know that there will be blessings beyond anything you can imagine come your way because of the good works you have chosen to perform here in this life. I know that you've already partaken of some of those sweet fruits. They'll continue to come as your kids get older and have their own little kiddies. Aren't we so thankful for families?! For loving families that want to be together forever. I didn't realize how many people there are that don't even care for that blessing. That shun the very thought. Oh its so sad and it makes me sick at times, but I always walk away with a greater appreciation and love for the family I was born into and the binding covenants made that allow us to extend beyond this life and into the greatest gift our Heavenly Father has to offer us, Eternal Life and Exaltation. I love you sweet mother.
Ryan! Yay! You're playing football! Woowee! You go get em. I know people say you should focus on basketball but really you just just enjoy every sport in every season. Aye, maybe I shouldn't say things like that. I don't know?... I'll write you a little later and hopefully you'll write back so I can get a little more information on how you're feeling in school, sports, and life. Let me know ok:)
Well I wrote You a little letter explaining all about this last week. Or maybe that was Lance.... I forget. This week was probably one of the toughest so far. Reality of the wickedness of the world came crashing down fast and hard. It hasn't been the funnest or greatest but it has been eye opening an we are being more careful about who we talk to and when we talk to them. My companion and I spent all day in the hospital yesterday with one of our investigators. Oh I just balled and balled my eyes out last night. I was so angry and so hurt. A flood of emotions kept hitting me left and right. It was then that I wished I didn't have such a sensitive little heart. I wished I had my dad there to hold me speak words of comfort. I'm so thankful for the power of prayer, for the conduit to heaven, and the holy ghost who consoles and heals. What a blessing it is to be able to kneel down in any situation great or small, and speak directly to our heavenly father. This has been my saving grace my entire life and has saved me a lot of grief in times past. I know the mission isn't going to get any easier but how thankful I am for the help of the lord in lifting burdens so that we cant even feel them upon our backs. It is true, I have felt the power and the love the lord has for each of his children.
Dad, thank you for your sweet email to Lance and I. Thank you for you encouraging words with my Spanish. I don't have a sure knowledge that it will come quite yet but I do have the faith and this will have to suffice until I see improvement. I love you all and hope to hear from you soon! Dad, thank you for loving my mom with the purest love that you're capable of in this life. How thankful I am for each of you and the charity you have for each other.

Thoughts from Lindsey

"I have loved reading it's (Book Of Mormon) pages every morning. I often times feel inadequate as I read of the faith of Alma and the Sons of Mosiah, Moroni and Helaman, the 2000 Stripling Warriors; Wow, pretty incredible. Solid men. Solid Women. I love the formula that Ammon gives in Alma 26:21 - 22. Please look that up when you get a chance. I love this book; every word of it! It has brought thousands, millions, to the truth. Alma 37:9. This record has been used, read, searched and loved since the birth of page 1. "By small and simple means are great things brought to pass." I'm so thankful for the Lord's tender mercies over all of his children. For his long-suffering and patience. Oh, how many times have I felt so lost because of iniquity and transgression. Hopeless. But Jesus Christ has shattered the chains which so easily bind us down. He has broken the chains of death! There aren't words to express the feelings of gratitude and love that come when true repentance is made. When that guilt and anguish is lifted. Only the Savior can heal us from ourselves, only he can wash away the mess we have made. Along with any other feeling of sorrow, sadness, hurt or pain that is certain to come to each of us in this mortal sphere of toil, trial & testing. He did it! He accomplished what no one else could. He paid the infinite price that was necessary for all of Heavenly Father's children to have a chance to rise again and come into the presence of our Creator. How thankful I am for each of you, for your testimony of Jesus Christ. I'm so thankful for my family! I love you and pray for you.
Love,

Lindsey (Lou)